Worried about greenery

In Transit

 Such has been her passion and commitment to the cause that controversies have stopped stalking Maneka.

 

Maneka took time off to chat with Metrolife about her initiatives and her concern for the depleting green spaces here in the City. She thinks every human being does have a compassionate side to him or her. That compassion needs to be harnessed in the right direction. “The young in our country have to be trained. We need to create successors. What I took 30 years to learn, our young can learn now. This generation has to take over from us. We need to build awareness among our people,” Maneka told Metrolife.

Does she still swear by vegetarianism? Doesn’t monotony ever creep into her platter? “It’s by choice that I chose to be a vegan. There are 63 vegetables in the country, so where’s the question of boredom. There’s so much waiting to be explored,” she reasons.
She noticed that the trees have almost disappeared in the City. “For a generation that wakes up in the malls,  where’s the question of getting out on the streets to save trees?” she wonders.

“The rain trees have gone, the avocados are a rare sight. All I see are Australian and nakli Ashoka trees, one that the British brought down during their time... this makes me slightly nervous,” she observes.

Does her son Varun too share her concern for animals and the environment? “Yes, Varun has grown up watching me do my part for the environment. When the atmosphere is conducive for kids, they just pick it up,” Maneka says. 

Mention Bangalore and Maneka just can’t contain her excitement. She cherishes vivid memories of the City. “I spent four years of my childhood in Bangalore and studied at the Sophia Girls’ High School. I stayed in Jayamahal Extension just beside the Jayamahal Palace. I still remember the weather was wonderful. It’s the best part of the City,” she wraps up.